Free New Mexico Permit Practice Test 3 (2026)
Real questions from the official New Mexico driver handbook, each with a plain-English explanation. Free, unlimited retakes, no signup.
Smart Review drills only the questions you get wrong. Full-length mock exams in the real format. Progress saved on every device — and the same account unlocks the mobile app.
Get Smart Review & Mock ExamsWhat this test covers
This draw of 20 questions breaks down like this:
- Right-of-Way & Intersections — 4
- Alcohol, Drugs & the Law — 3
- Emergencies & Crashes — 3
- Traffic Signs & Signals — 3
- Adverse Conditions — 2
- Safe Driving — 2
- Sharing the Road — 1
- Speed Limits & Speed Management — 1
- Traffic Lanes, Passing & Turning — 1
Heaviest on Right-of-Way & Intersections (4 of 20) — that is the section to revise first if you miss several here.
Every question here applies nationwide.
Each test on this site draws a different set, so Test 1, 2 and 3 never repeat a question.
Questions on this test
1. Keeping a space cushion around your car is important because it:
- Is required by law only
- Saves fuel
- Gives you time and room to avoid trouble
- Looks good
Show answer
Answer: Gives you time and room to avoid trouble
Space in front, back, and to the sides gives you options to avoid a crash.
2. In a two-lane roundabout, you should choose your lane based on:
- Always the left
- The car ahead
- Your car color
- Where you plan to exit (signs show which lane for which exit)
Show answer
Answer: Where you plan to exit (signs show which lane for which exit)
Use lane-choice signs before the roundabout to pick the correct lane for your exit.
3. As you drink more in a short time, your blood alcohol level:
- Rises, and impairment increases
- Drops
- Stays flat
- Is unaffected by amount
Show answer
Answer: Rises, and impairment increases
More drinks = higher BAC and greater impairment; there is no safe amount before driving.
4. A red circle with a red slash over a symbol means:
- The action shown is required
- Caution for that action
- Yield for that action
- The action shown is prohibited
Show answer
Answer: The action shown is prohibited
A red circle-and-slash means the pictured action (e.g., no U-turn, no right turn) is not allowed.
5. Even one or two drinks can:
- Only affect vision
- Slow reaction time and impair judgment
- Improve driving
- Have zero effect
Show answer
Answer: Slow reaction time and impair judgment
Impairment starts with the first drink — reaction and judgment suffer before you feel drunk.
6. If your engine temperature gauge shows overheating, you should:
- Open the radiator cap immediately
- Ignore it
- Keep driving fast
- Turn off the A/C, and if it continues, pull over and shut off the engine
Show answer
Answer: Turn off the A/C, and if it continues, pull over and shut off the engine
Reduce load (turn off A/C); if it keeps rising, pull over and let it cool — never open a hot radiator.
7. What does this sign tell you?
- Detour
- Two-way traffic
- Wrong way
- Traffic flows in one direction — the way the arrow points
Show answer
Answer: Traffic flows in one direction — the way the arrow points
A one-way sign means traffic moves only in the direction of the arrow.
8. If your brakes feel spongy or go to the floor, you should first:
- Accelerate
- Steer off a cliff
- Turn off the key
- Pump the pedal to try to build pressure
Show answer
Answer: Pump the pedal to try to build pressure
Pump the pedal to try to restore pressure, then use the parking brake and downshift.
9. When it starts to rain, you should turn on your:
- Headlights and wipers
- Hazard lights
- High beams
- Interior lights
Show answer
Answer: Headlights and wipers
Turn on wipers and headlights (your state requires headlights when wipers are needed for weather).
10. After driving through deep water, your brakes may be wet. To dry them, you should:
- Do nothing
- Turn off the engine
- Drive slowly while lightly applying the brakes
- Pump hard once
Show answer
Answer: Drive slowly while lightly applying the brakes
Test and dry wet brakes by driving slowly and gently pressing the brake pedal.
11. You want to turn left; an oncoming car is going straight through. Who goes first?
- Whoever signals first
- Whoever is larger
- You — left turns have priority
- The oncoming car going straight
Show answer
Answer: The oncoming car going straight
A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic going straight through.
12. As you exit a parking lot across a sidewalk, a pedestrian is walking on the sidewalk. You must:
- Speed across quickly
- Honk and continue
- Proceed — sidewalk users must yield to cars
- Yield to the pedestrian before crossing the sidewalk
Show answer
Answer: Yield to the pedestrian before crossing the sidewalk
Vehicles crossing a sidewalk must yield to pedestrians already on it.
13. You come upon a crash scene ahead. You should:
- Slow down, move over if possible, and watch for people and debris
- Speed by quickly
- Stop in your lane
- Take photos while driving
Show answer
Answer: Slow down, move over if possible, and watch for people and debris
Slow down, move over, and watch for injured people, responders, and debris.
14. Alcohol impairs your ability to:
- Hear only
- Only walk
- Judge distance and speed, react, and make decisions
- Nothing important
Show answer
Answer: Judge distance and speed, react, and make decisions
Alcohol harms judgment, reaction, vision, and decision-making — all vital to driving.
15. Your total stopping distance increases with:
- Lower speed
- Higher speed, wet roads, and slow reactions
- Daylight
- New tires
Show answer
Answer: Higher speed, wet roads, and slow reactions
Speed, poor road conditions, and slow reaction all lengthen your stopping distance.
16. Turning left from a driveway onto a road, you must yield to:
- Only pedestrians
- Only traffic from the left
- No one
- Traffic approaching from both directions and pedestrians
Show answer
Answer: Traffic approaching from both directions and pedestrians
Yield to all approaching traffic and pedestrians before turning out of a driveway.
17. When making a LEFT turn, you should turn from and into which lanes?
- From the right lane into any lane
- From whichever lane is open
- From the lane nearest the center, into the lane just right of center
- From the shoulder
Show answer
Answer: From the lane nearest the center, into the lane just right of center
Begin from the lane nearest the center line and end in the lane just to the right of the center of the road you enter.
18. The only real cure for drowsy driving is:
- Coffee
- Sleep — pull over and rest
- Opening a window
- Loud music
Show answer
Answer: Sleep — pull over and rest
Only rest fixes fatigue. If you're drowsy, pull over somewhere safe and sleep.
19. Walking along a road with no sidewalk, a pedestrian should walk:
- In the center
- With traffic
- Facing oncoming traffic
- On either side
Show answer
Answer: Facing oncoming traffic
Pedestrians should walk facing traffic so they can see and react to oncoming vehicles.
20. What does this sign tell you to do?
- Keep to the right of a divider or obstruction
- Merge right
- Turn right only
- No right turn
Show answer
Answer: Keep to the right of a divider or obstruction
A keep-right sign directs you to pass to the right of a median or obstacle.